- Paperback: 244 pages
- Publisher: Overlook Connection Press,US (1 July 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1892950618
- ISBN-13: 978-1892950611
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 15.5 x 1.7 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 416,727 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Girl Next Door
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Product Description
Product Description
Suburbia in the 1950s, a dark side emerging in the Chandler house for teenage Meg and her crippled little sister Susan --captive to an Aunt, who is rapidly descending into madness. "The Girl Next Door is alive.... in a way most works of poplular fiction never attain; it does not just promise terror but actually delievers it. But it's a page-turner, all right; no doubt about that." - Stephen King
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First Sentence
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
You think you know about pain? Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The Girl Next Door is probably the most disturbing book that I have ever read. The horrors depicted in the book almost all come directly from the Sylvia Likens murder case which took place in Indiana in the 1960's.
Given the extreme nature of the case that the book is based upon, it sometimes reads as sensational, or even exploitational, but the facts of the case add an element to the story that makes it incredibly difficult to dismiss.
Its a hard book to recommend because of the intense emotional impact that it has, yet in that respect, it should be read. Some of the acts described in the book will make you wince or turn your stomach, others hit some primal fears that exist in all of us and make the book impossible to forget.
The Girl Next Door is a true horror book and represents, in my opinion, one of the best works in that genre.
Read the book if you feel you have the stomach for it and, for once, do believe the hype.
As a footnote, I would also recommend The Basement by Kate Millett, a semi fictional account of the true story, told from the imagined perspectives of some of the people concerned. It adds further impact to the events described in The Girl Next Door.
Given the extreme nature of the case that the book is based upon, it sometimes reads as sensational, or even exploitational, but the facts of the case add an element to the story that makes it incredibly difficult to dismiss.
Its a hard book to recommend because of the intense emotional impact that it has, yet in that respect, it should be read. Some of the acts described in the book will make you wince or turn your stomach, others hit some primal fears that exist in all of us and make the book impossible to forget.
The Girl Next Door is a true horror book and represents, in my opinion, one of the best works in that genre.
Read the book if you feel you have the stomach for it and, for once, do believe the hype.
As a footnote, I would also recommend The Basement by Kate Millett, a semi fictional account of the true story, told from the imagined perspectives of some of the people concerned. It adds further impact to the events described in The Girl Next Door.
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have read hundreds of books in my lifetime. This one takes the cake for being the boldest, and most graphic. Even more so than Clive Barker. And to me, this is a good thing. Ketchum oversteps the boundaries of politically correctness on every page. The story itself is very simple. A young girl gets torchered in a basement by her legal guardian, and her sons. Why do they do this? We really don't know. I felt for this poor girl. I also felt for the boy who thinks he is in love with her. He can't decide to help her, or help the family with the massacre. This is why, I think, the novel succeeds. There is little plot to the novel. But it is without a doubt a page turner. if you are not easily offended, try this book. It will surprise you, and shock you. And like I said before, this is a good thing.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
an absolutely enthralling story from start to finish, i read it in less than a day (something I've never done before). I wouldn't let some of the other reviews put you off as although the majority of incidents that happen are horrific, Ketchum does not overdo it with the detail. With some of the more gruesome scenes he gives you the build up and then cuts off, leaving it up to your imagination.
The story is set in 1950's America and apparently based upon a real incident. After loosing their parents in a car accident Meg and Susan are forced to live with their Aunt Ruth. For some reason that never becomes clear Ruth has an overwhelming hatred toward the two girls and Meg in particular. She proceeds to abuse and torture them through out the course of the novel, while she spirals into madness. What is truly frightening is the effect her madness has on the local children, which is infectious.
I think what people find disturbing about the book is that the things described in this book do happen and that real horror does exist. The way Ketchum describes it, you actually feel like you're there knee deep in it all. If you were then there's no way that you would just stand there and watch. But that's exactly what Ketchum makes you do and that is the beauty of this book!
The story is set in 1950's America and apparently based upon a real incident. After loosing their parents in a car accident Meg and Susan are forced to live with their Aunt Ruth. For some reason that never becomes clear Ruth has an overwhelming hatred toward the two girls and Meg in particular. She proceeds to abuse and torture them through out the course of the novel, while she spirals into madness. What is truly frightening is the effect her madness has on the local children, which is infectious.
I think what people find disturbing about the book is that the things described in this book do happen and that real horror does exist. The way Ketchum describes it, you actually feel like you're there knee deep in it all. If you were then there's no way that you would just stand there and watch. But that's exactly what Ketchum makes you do and that is the beauty of this book!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A dark but realistic book
This is the sort of book that gets under your skin a little. It's just the sort of story that gets reported in the news and everyone in the street or the small town just missed... Read more
Published 8 months ago by CoolJules
This book hurts so good
Reading this book hurts - a lot. I had to put it down over and over again because it was just too much. Jack Ketchum really hits a nerve with this tale, and he hits it hard. Read more
Published 8 months ago by David Nash
Harrowing
A harrowing book which is difficult to get out of your mind. What makes this book profound is the author's skilful depiction of how one can be sucked in to evil. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Diane of Glasgow
distrubing
this has to be one of the most disturbing books i have ever read but i just couldnt put it down its a true master peice in the way its written, i dont recommend you read it before... Read more
Published 13 months ago by kate
Disturbingly horrific fact based novel
4.5
Very well written, extremely disturbing and emotional piece of fiction based on a real event that happened in the 1960's. Read more
Very well written, extremely disturbing and emotional piece of fiction based on a real event that happened in the 1960's. Read more
Published 15 months ago by sam
Absorbing
Having read the reviews on Amazon I really wanted to read this book. I was not disappointed but would say that it was not quite as "dark and harrowing" as some reviews would lead... Read more
Published 15 months ago by K. Dance
Jack Ketchum "The Girl Next Door" A Novel
On October 26, 1965, Sylvia Marie Likens left this world.
She died of a brain hemorrhage and shock, the result of being subjected to multiple beatings, torture, rape,... Read more
She died of a brain hemorrhage and shock, the result of being subjected to multiple beatings, torture, rape,... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Ghost
The Girl Next Door.
The Girl Next Door, is undoubtedly the most horrific book i've read. Ever. You may call me lightweight,or a softy, but that would only be if you hadn't read the said book. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Anonomous reader
Horror about true horror
I went into this book thinking I could handle it, but it still did make me tear up a few times.It's still hard to put down, though. Read more
Published on 13 July 2008 by Jolin
Addictive and disturbing
This was my second novel by Jack Ketchum, having enjoyed Off Season very much, This book, although very different to Off Season, is also brilliantly written and very difficult to... Read more
Published on 24 April 2008 by marky77
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